Girls who fall pregnant during the course of their studies are set to enjoy ‘maternity vacation’ before returning to continue with their education after giving birth.

The privileges are provided in the Education Bill that is currently under debate in the National Assembly, where legislators are showing support for the clause.

Advocates of girl child rights have also hailed the proposals they describe as positive in affording the girls a chance to continue with studies.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima recently told legislators that allowing the girls to take a vacation and continue with studies was in line with the National Constitution that advocates non-discrimination.

“There is an issue that has generated a lot of interest among the parliamentarians; and this is the issue of exclusion on account of pregnancy, and the fundamental basis of the inclusion of this issue is premised on Section 75 of the Constitution, which speaks against discrimination,” said Minister Mavima.

“The current practice in our education system has it that if two form four learners have an affair and end up impregnating each other — the male student can continue with his education, but the female student cannot, yet section 75 of our Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of gender or sex and it is the basis upon which this item was included in our Bill.”

A number of pregnant girls drop out of school because of current policies that bar them from studies whilst expecting.State media